Heim HR ruins Lugs' comeback, 11-9

LANSING, Mich. - The Lansing Lugnuts (2-6, 39-35) rallied back from a five-run deficit to force extra innings, only to see a Jonah Heim two-run homer lift the Bowling Green Hot Rods (3-5, 34-41) to an 11-9 ten-inning win on Thursday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.

The Lugnuts and Hot Rods split the four-game series.

Trailing 9-4 entering the home eighth, Edward Olivares tripled and scored on a wild pitch; Joshua Palacios lined a two-run double; and Palacios pulled off a double steal with Bo Bichette , swiping home plate to pull the Nuts within one run.

The Lugnuts completed the comeback in the ninth against Reimin Ramos(Blown Save, 1), with Olivares racing in with the game-tying run on pinch-hitter Rodrigo Orozco 's one out swinging-bunt of an RBI single.

In the tenth, however, Bobby Melley drew a one-out walk from Griffin Glaude (Loss, 3-2). Heim, who had homered earlier in the series against Glaude, victimized the Lugnuts' reliever again with a towering shot to right-center.

Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. reached on a one-out single in the bottom of the tenth, attempting to keep hope alive for the hometown heroes - but Ramos (Win, 2-2) coaxed a double play from Mitch Nay to end the game.

Professional baseball's leading batter, Bo Bichette, went 1-for-4 with two walks and his ninth home run of the season, dropping his batting average to .399.

Lansing starter Osman Gutierrez lasted four innings-plus, allowing nine hits and eight runs. Dan Lietz followed with three scoreless innings, yielding to Jared Carkuff for two innings of one-run ball.

The Lugnuts head on the road for the next four days in South Bend, returning to Michigan's state capital on Tuesday for special 4th of July LAFCU Fireworks. Tickets may be purchased at the Cooley Law School Stadium box office, by calling (517) 485-4500 or via lansinglugnuts.com.
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